Dead Turbo, I need a new one, but which one?

[sneak]

It's a 95 Tsi AWD, the seals went out of the turbo, I need to buy a new one. I am on a budget, and would like to get some decent performance out of it. It is completely stock and I bought it as is. I know I need to do the regular preventative maintenance, the trans is a little loose, and I'm planning on taking the intake off and cleaning it, post turbo. I live in rural south eastern Minnesota, and don't race a lick, but I sure drive anything like I stole it.

 

[dr_fatkins]

It depends on what that budget is. To get the car back on the road the best bet might be another stock (t-25) turbo of ebay for $50.

Used 14B and 16G turbos are everywhere as well, but they require an install kit, or at the very least, an oil feed line and some creative reuse of your current parts ($50-$200 plus cost of turbo). These turbos will allow for much more performance growth after you install the required supporting mods.

 

[travislaw]

It's a 95 Tsi AWD, the seals went out of the turbo, I need to buy a new one. I am on a budget, and would like to get some decent performance out of it. It is completely stock and I bought it as is. I know I need to do the regular preventative maintenance, the trans is a little loose, and I'm planning on taking the intake off and cleaning it, post turbo. I live in rural south eastern Minnesota, and don't race a lick, but I sure drive anything like I stole it.

I should have a rebuilt turbo on Friday or Saturday, let me know and I could sell you it for $350 out the door. It is a rebuilt T-25. I bought a brand new Evo III 16-G Ported turbo and so I had the old one rebuilt because it was under warranty. A seal cracked on the old one. Let me know if your interested.

 

[Pure92TSi]

I should have a rebuilt turbo on Friday or Saturday, let me know and I could sell you it for $350 out the door. It is a rebuilt T-25. I bought a brand new Evo III 16-G Ported turbo and so I had the old one rebuilt because it was under warranty. A seal cracked on the old one. Let me know if your interested.

WOW, no one in their right mind is gonna pay 350 for a T-25. That would just be stupid. You can get a Big 16G or a T-28 for that. Anyway back to the question at hand. I would go with a T-28. Similar performance to the 16G but you don't need an install kit for it.

 

[travislaw]

WOW, no one in their right mind is gonna pay 350 for a T-25. That would just be stupid. You can get a Big 16G or a T-28 for that. Anyway back to the question at hand. I would go with a T-28. Similar performance to the 16G but you don't need an install kit for it.

Dude, don't be a jerk. Your wrong, I just replaced my turbo and the cheapest brand new ones I found on the Big16G or the T-28 were no less than $500. So for a rebuilt T-25 turbo $350 isn't bad, considering they are $1,200 brand new from the dealership. Junk yards will sell you a used T-25 for $500 or more. At least with this one it is rebuilt to spec so you don't need to worry about something going wrong.

 

[Pure92TSi]

You can buy very good condition T-28 or Evo 3 16G on here for around 300 bucks. Check the classifieds. And anyway a rebuild kit for the T-25 is really cheap and it's just a like a new turbo after that.

 

[JayZDMX21]

If I were you I would not even bother with a t-25 or t-28 and I would go with a evo 16g. The 16g is more efficient then any of those.

 

[Pure92TSi]

If I were you I would not even bother with a t-25 or t-28 and I would go with a evo 16g. The 16g is more efficient then any of those.

I couldn't agree more but he is on a budget and probably doesn't want to buy a install kit.

 

[dr_fatkins]

Pure92TSi is right; the used market has a lot available. Mitsu turbos last forever and a rebuilt one would probably last the life of your car. Your power goals will determine your turbo choice - so browse this site for topics such as (t-28, evo III, supporting mods) and get back to use with specific questions after that.

 

[Pure92TSi]

Pure92TSi is right; the used market has a lot available. Mitsu turbos last forever and a rebuilt one would probably last the life of your car. Your power goals will determine your turbo choice - so browse this site for topics such as (t-28, evo III, supporting mods) and get back to use with specific questions after that.

Thank you, finally someone that knows what they are talkin about.

 

[sneak]

Well, here's the story, I know about turbo systems for diesels, and about N/A gas engines, but when it comes to fitment for a turbo on a gas engine I'm completely lost. I would be willing to pay for an EVO 3 16g, new even, and I CAN do a good amount of fabrication, but this probably won't be happening until I get payed, AFTER the first of the year, I still owe the guy I bought it from $250 for it...did I say it looks great and I just made a deal for $500?...anyway, if I have no other mods for the first couple of months of driving, is the car gonna be too big of a dog, and would I have the chance to wreck something? If I did buy the EVO 3 16g, I'd port the O2 housing and put on exhaust right away, but that's probably it.

Edit: I'm probably shooting for between 310 and 380 or 390 in the long run, and I plan to upgrade or weld my center differ as soon as cash would allow. Any other conciderations?

 

[Pure92TSi]

I would not advise welding the center diff for a daily driver. You can still drive the car even if the turbo is crapped out. Just don't try to drive it fast or anything and check the fluids constantly. You will also want to port the turbine housing, this will let your turbo spool faster.

 

[sneak]

Well this is what I heard from the guy I bought it from, but he's not exactly automotive literite, "I was driving it and all the sudden it just started on fire...there were flames coming out from behind me...I cant drive it." So if the seals are out, doesn't that mean I'm ingesting oil into my engine? I can probably get it back to my farm this sunday. would I be able to drive it back without doing damage? It's about a 30-35 mile drive.

 

[Pure92TSi]

Flames out the back (unintentionally) sounds like a way bigger problem to me than seals in the turbo but I could be wrong, I've just never heard of that happening from seals in the turbo. Here's what you should do...pull off the UICP and see if there is tons of oil in it. If so maybe you shouldn't drive it. If there is just a little you can try it just drive very very easy and keep a close eye on everything. Start it up and let it run for a sec and see if everything sounds and smells ok.

 

[aadperformance]

blown seals usually mean smoke coming out of the tailpipe not flames. I would consider investigation some before getting a new turbo. Definitely go with the EVO3. You can have it on there with everything stock as long as you don't turn up the boost it should be fine till you get the supporting mods.

 

[sneak]

like I said, my friend isn't exactly automotive literate. I'll check the upper ICC pipe for oil. If it isn't significant, I'll get a fire extinguisher and drive it home, REAL slow. How's that sound?

I think I am going to go with the EVO. It sounds like the HP range I'm looking for.

 

[Pure92TSi]

Sounds good. Let us know how it goes and good choice on the turbo. Just make sure you get everything to install it.

 

[sneak]

OK, now here's one more thing, what do you DSMers think of the 50 trim, and will it work as well, as effectively for my situation, as I am only going to be able to upgrade a little at a time after this.

 

[MrBoxx]

I bought a perfectly good 14b from a junkyard for about $150. Check your junkyards, make friends with the guys who run it, and see what you can find. If you find a good 14b (or get super lucky and find a 16g) buy it for $125-175 or whatever, put together your own parts for an install kit and you'll have a new, bigger, more efficient turbo in your car for all of, at most, $250. You could even go the expensive route of buying an install kit for it and still be under $350.

 

[Pure92TSi]

OK, now here's one more thing, what do you DSMers think of the 50 trim, and will it work as well, as effectively for my situation, as I am only going to be able to upgrade a little at a time after this.

I think the 50 trim is a little big for you at the moment. You will need significant fuel upgrades for that.

 

[sneak]

OK, that's what I was looking for, I'll post again when I've taken a look at my car.

 

[sneak]

I just got the talon home last night. you can hear the turbo starting to spool as you slowly rev the engine, and then you can hear it catch on the housing and bearings. I shudder everytime I hear that *psssssssstkch*. So I got to take everything apart and clean it, I'll post pictures of the destroyed turbo.

 

[tpr103]

if your not looking to go nuts and have to upgrade other things like exhaust, and other bpu but need the car back soon i would go with a 14b! i have seen many 14b go in the 12s with the right parts. once your there the turbo will probably be tired but you'll already have the basics for a bigger turbo! a 14b will spool just as quick as a t25 but will flow more! you'll see a huge difference and you can't beat the price

 

[jaredgsx]

It's a 95 Tsi AWD, the seals went out of the turbo, I need to buy a new one. I am on a budget, and would like to get some decent performance out of it. It is completely stock and I bought it as is. I know I need to do the regular preventative maintenance, the trans is a little loose, and I'm planning on taking the intake off and cleaning it, post turbo. I live in rural south eastern Minnesota, and don't race a lick, but I sure drive anything like I stole it.

since you have no modifications, and drive it like you stole it, i would say replace it with another t-25

 

[bird man]

if you say you are on a budget but still want to be between 350-400 HP I would get the evo3 gt from turbochargers.com they are rated at 400Hp and only cost a fraction of the t28 even after the install kit is purchesed.